Perennial (allergic) Rhinitis

Can be caused by dust mites, food intolerance or even chemical sensitivity.

Perennial Rhinitis & Allergy to Dust Mites

Many people with rhinitis have a simple allergy to house dust mites. The mites thrive in a warm, humid environment such as insulated, centrally heated homes; their habitat is in bed mattresses and soft furnishings. They cannot survive in low or very high temperatures and low humidity.

Some of our clients notice that their rhinitis, previously thought to be a permanent problem, actually clears within 48 hrs of arriving in any Mediterranean country or high in the mountains, where humidity is low, only to relapse on their return to the UK. Tests sometimes confirm that their main problem is allergy to dust mites or other airborne agents such as cats, dogs, moulds or pollens during the spring or summer. This proves that many of these symptoms, in the right environment or with the right management, can resolve.

Rhinitis & Food Intolerance

It is a misconception that rhinitis is always caused by allergens in the air. Some people find that their symptoms get worse after eating some common foods but improve when they exclude them from their diet for 1-2 weeks. This reactivity is different from allergy to foods such as peanut, which is fast and potentially severe. Food intolerance is a common cause of breathing problems, characterised by congestion and or mucus in the upper or lower airways. Many common foods are the usual culprits. Rhinitis caused by food intolerance remains unchanged in dry climates.

Rhinits & Chemical Sensitivity

Through the years, many of our clients with rhinitis or asthma have noticed that, when their symptoms are bad, they become more sensitive to chemicals in the air, such as perfumes, cigarette smoke, detergents and others. In the majority of cases, this sensitivity clears when the rhinitis gets better. This said, there are occasions when the same chemicals act as primary causes of rhinitis, not just exacerbating factors.